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Sunday, April 27, 2008

I'm a coffeeaholic (is that even a real world?) and have spent a considerable amount of time and effort engaged in the quest to make a better cup. Here are ten tips that I have learned and practice myself...

1) Buy beans, not pre-ground coffee, and grind only what you are about to use, right before you use it.

2) Use a lighter roast, because lower quality beans are often used for darker roasts.

3) DON'T store your beans in the freezer as this can damage the oil. Instead store your beans in a cool dry place, in an airtight container.

4) Use good water. Coffee is mostly water, so the quality of the water you use will affect how the coffee turns out.

5) I use two coffee filters so that the water in my drip coffee maker stays in the grounds a bit longer, for a more full bodied brew.

6) Use more beans but with a coarser grind. The finer the grind the greater the extraction, and excess extraction can lead to bitterness.

7) Take your coffee off the heat immediately after it's brewed - don't let it sit on the burner.

8) Pour the cream into the cup first and the coffee second and not vice versa. Not sure why, but it makes a difference in the taste.

9) Add a couple of drops of vanilla or almond extract for nicer flavour.